University of Wisconsin President Ray Cross on Tuesday asked the Legislature's budget-writing committee to approve a new public authority for the UW System, a "dedicated and stable funding stream" and to reduce the governor's proposed $300 million budget cut over the next two years.

Shortly after he finished his testimony, a handful of protesters burst into the room shouting, "No cuts, no deals." Followed by four Capitol police officers, the protesters marched past the table where Cross was sitting to give testimony before the Joint Committee on Finance.

If Park Bank is liable for not spotting Sujata "Sue" Sachdeva's $34 million embezzlement from Koss Corp. and has to reimburse the company, Koss Chief Executive Michael Koss should also be ordered to personally pay the public company he runs, the bank argues in a new lawsuit.

Grant Thornton, Koss Corp.'s former auditor, should also have to pay a portion of any award that may be ordered, Park Bank argued in the latest twist in a long-running court fight stemming from Sachdeva's massive embezzlement.

"Park Bank denies any and all liability to Koss in this case," the bank said in its action. "Nevertheless, should Park Bank be found liable to Koss (Corp.) and required to pay damages to Koss, in this case, those damages will have been the result of a common liability of Park Bank, Michael Koss and Grant Thornton, thereby entitling Park Bank to (a) contribution from Michael Koss and Grant Thornton."(6)

The survey by Public Policy Polling, a Democratic-leaning firm, had a margin of error of 2.9%.

PPP called the poll “mixed news” for Walker, saying his job-performance rating was unchanged from February.

But, the polling firm noted, Walker leads by 5-10 points with independents in all four matchups, and takes an average of 12% of the Democratic vote while losing only 7% of Republicans.

The lack of name recognition for the Democrats tested in the poll means the eventual nominee “should have more room to grow” support, the firm said.

In the poll, PPP noted, an average of 14% of Democrats are undecided, compared to just 4% of Republicans.

An abortion question generated the poll’s clearest result: 47% said they opposed “the abortion law passed by the legislature” in 2013, while 20% said they supported it, with the rest undecided. The law, pushed by GOP lawmakers and signed by Walker, requires women seeking abortions to get ultrasounds, and seeks to require doctors who perform abortions to have hospital admitting privileges.

The poll asked if protesters at the Solidarity Sing Alongs in the Capitol rotunda should have to get a permit. Respondents were split: 45% said no, 41% said yes. A judge recently ruled that groups of more than 20 protesters need a permit, but that smaller groups do not.

Of the poll’s 1,180 voters, 32% self-identified as Democrats, 28% as Republicans and 41% as independents or something else.

The poll drew this response from the state Democratic Party: "History bears out that sitting below 50 percent traditionally spells bad news for incumbents. Outside special interests wouldn't be spending half-a-million dollars with no announced challenger 14 months out from the election if they didn't know Scott Walker was in trouble. But even with the support of that dishonest ad campaign, Scott Walker is crumbling under the weight of his own failure and is incredibly vulnerable."

Walker's campaign had this to say: "Governor Walker’s focus is on helping Wisconsin move forward. He has balanced a $3.6 billion deficit, cut income taxes, and Wisconsin has seen its best two year job growth in a decade under any governor. We're confident that voters want to continue moving forward, and have no desire to return to the failed policies of the past."

About Dave Umhoefer

Dave Umhoefer covers local politics and government as part of the PolitiFact Wisconsin and Watchdog teams. His investigation into pension padding by Milwaukee County employees won a 2008 Pulitzer Prize.